Ed Murray/The Star-LedgerSenate Budget Committee Chairman Paul Sarlo (D-Bergen), who is also the mayor of Wood-ridge, said the Senate would pass a version of arbitration and civil service reform by the end of the year.

ATLANTIC CITY — Frustration boiled over at the League of Municipalities conference this morning, as local officials had a chance to address state lawmakers and a cabinet official on Gov. Chris Christie’s “tool kit” measures meant to help them curtail property taxes.

During a question and answer session with five lawmakers and Department of Community Affairs Commissioner Lori Grifa, some officials cast blame on Democrats for stalling on the two most important measures: arbitration and civil service reform.

“Quite frankly, I’m starting to come to the conclusion that part of the problem with New Jersey is the legislators. They are not willing to make the hard decisions,” said George Jackson, a councilman from Mountain Lakes. “What I hear is the legislative process that’s going to do its best to delay and water down the tool kits."

The governor signed the tax cap in July. But while the state Senate and Assembly have acted on some minor “tool kit” measures, they have quarreled with the governor on the specifics of the two major ones.

Senate Budget Committee Chairman Paul Sarlo (D-Bergen), who is also the mayor of Wood-ridge, said the Senate would pass a version of arbitration and civil service reform by the end of the year. But he said setting arbitration awards at 2 percent, as the governor has called for, would give towns less incentive to look for creative ways that could save more money.

In Wood-Ridge, Sarlo said he negotiated a contract with his police force that gave them a 3 percent raise but saved the town $300,000 in health care givebacks.

“If you get the 2 percent hard cap you’re not getting the concessions on anything,” he said.

Other officials complained they did not know how much their towns would actually save if the measures are enacted, and that the state’s cuts in municipal aid earlier this year made it even harder for them to slow the growth in property taxes.

Tenafly Mayor Peter Rustin said Trenton’s landmark sign that reads “Trenton makes, the world takes,” should actually read “Trenton takes, New Jersey aches” and that the state government should make cuts the same way they’re asking towns to. He also bristled at the rhetoric on forcing towns to share services when he can stand on a corner in his town and see police from several different state and county-level forces.

“What we need in Trenton is leadership. We need somebody to lead by example," he said. “How about cutting things the way you want us to cut?”

Grifa said the size of state government has shrank over the last several years, while local government has grown.

“I know that you want to provide more services. The state of New Jersey is simply not going to be there to help you pay for them,” Grifa told the officials. “I’m not a baker, so I don’t ice cakes. I have no sweet message from Trenton for you.”